Since the 6th century AD crosses have served in the Isle of Man as grave markers and memorial stones. To date, 204 decorated stones have been found, representing the largest concentration of such stones for this period. The great majority remain in the churches and churchyard ‘cross shelters’ of their parish of origin. Cast copies of all the stones are kept at the Manx Museum, forming an invaluable reference collection. Wherever the stones are housed, they are treated as Ancient Monuments and as such are under the protection and guardianship of Manx National Heritage.

The earliest slabs show Celtic styles, from simple cross designs to the later complicated interlace. Inscriptions in Ogham, Celtic lettering, or very occasionally Latin, commemorate the dead. Most of these Celtic crosses can be seen in the cross shelter at Kirk Maughold, with others at Old Kirk Lonan, Old Kirk Braddan and Onchan Parish Church.

After the Vikings settled on Mann, and later converted to Christianity, Norse sculptors decorated their stones with images from their pagan mythology and with interlace. Outstanding examples of the new designs were produced by Gaut, a sculptor, whose ring-chain pattern inspired the Manx National Heritage logo. Memorial runes link Norse and Celtic names within families, providing evidence of intermarriage. Fine examples of Norse crosses can be seen at the parish churches of Andreas, Maughold, Jurby, Michael and Old Kirk Braddan.